DAR ES SALAAM

also spelled Dar As-salam, seat of government, largest city, industrial centre, and major port of Tanzania, eastern Africa. Its climate is hot and humid, with an annual rainfall of 43 inches (1,100 mm). Dar es Salaam (from the Arabic dar salaam, or haven of peace) was founded in 1862 by the sultan of Zanzibar on the site of the village of Mzizima. It remained only a small port until the German East Africa Company established a station there in 1887. The starting point (1907) for the Central Line railroad, it served as the capital of German East Africa (18911916), of Tanganyika (196164), and subsequently of Tanzania. Since 1974 it has been the seat of government of Tanzania, pending completion of the transfer of official functions to the new national capital at Dodoma. It is now the terminus of the rail line west to Kigoma on Lake Tanganyika and north to Mwanza on Lake Victoria. Post-World War II expansion brought modern, multistoried buildings, including a hospital complex, a technical institute, and a high court. Educational facilities include the University of Dar es Salaam (founded in 1961 as University College and given university status in 1970), several libraries and research institutes, and the National Museum (whose collection contains the 1,750,000-year-old hominid skull discovered by Mary Leakey at Olduvai Gorge in 1959). Dar es Salaam's natural, nearly landlocked harbour is the outlet for most of mainland Tanzania's agricultural and mineral exports and is also a transit port for the Congo River, whose navigable tributary, the Lualaba, can be reached by rail. The Tanzam Railway, completed in 1975, also connects Zambia with the port at Dar es Salaam. Local products include soap, paint, cigarettes, food products, metalware, glassware, textiles, wood carvings, and shoes. Pop. (1978) 769,445.